Chapter 2

"Coming down hard now," Xena informed her companion, who was sitting by the fire scribbling contentedly on one of her many scrolls. Xena stood there a moment and studied the bard... warrior... Amazon Queen and a slight smile lit her lips.

"Gabrielle?" she inquired when the woman made no notice of her. "What are you so engrossed in?"
After a noticeably long pause, Gabrielle glanced up at her and smiled. "Oh, writing down what happened today before the images become dull in my mind."

Xena smiled in acknowledgement, not really understanding why her traveling companion felt compelled to keep a written record of their daily activities, but agreeing nevertheless. "I can't imagine your mind dull when it comes to anything," Xena stated matter-of-factly as she stepped closer to the smaller woman and extended her hand. "If you really want to see something worth writing about, come look at the spectacle the sky is displaying."

Setting aside her quill and parchment, the bard's smile brightened as she willingly took the hand offered her. She held tightly to Xena and followed her to the opening of the cave that served as their shelter for the night.

The strong hand of the warrior came up and shielded Gabrielle's eyes. She smiled as she put her own hand over Xena's and moved it aside. "How am I supposed to see with you hindering my field of vision?" she inquired gently, but with a hint of amusement.

"It's brighter than it was…" Xena trailed off, now startled by the exhibition in the night sky. Something or someone was raging from above. Of that, Xena was certain.

"Good Gods!" Gabrielle gasped, clutching Xena's hand even tighter. "You were right, not like you're ever wrong, of course," she said with a chuckle and sidled closer to Xena. The night air grew increasingly colder, as if with every lash from the sky the temperature dropped another degree.

"Come on," Xena said while placing a hand on the bard's bared stomach, reinforcing her request against the inevitable resistance she knew would come. Attempting to lead her back into the cave, Xena added, "Let's get closer to the fire before we freeze."

But Gabrielle stood firm. "Xena, wait." Gesturing to the sky, Gabrielle watched as Xena's pale blue eyes followed her deceptively delicate arm upwards. Once the warrior's gaze reached the same general direction as her gesture, Gabrielle pondered, "What is that?"

Xena's dark brows came down as she squinted to get a better view of an object that appeared to be in the grip of a very vicious looking lightning bolt. Xena shook her head, "I don't know. And I don't think either of us wants to find out. Let's go." Her voice was firmer this time, the protectiveness she felt for the smaller woman compelling her to make it sound like a command.
Gabrielle half giggled, half snorted after Xena gave her order, and followed by "the look." Xena should have remembered that "the look" didn't work on her anymore. Call it a workplace hazard. Not that it wasn't menacing, terrifying even. Gabrielle had seen slavers, pirates, and the occasional Olympian brought to tears by those baby blues. But she had an advantage; Gabrielle knew what was behind the icy stare. She was privileged enough to see inside the Warrior Princess's heart, and after that, there could be no fear. "You drag me over here, then just when it's getting interesting you want me to miss it?"

"Gabrielle…." Xena warned in that oh so deep sensual voice she knew would alert Gabrielle that she meant business.

"But Xena..."

Then came the thundering clash, the blinding blue-white light, and a primal wail the likes of which the pair had never uttered nor heard before.

"Now that was pain…" Xena said under her breath and turned an about face to confront the force of nature.

"Xena, that's a person!" Gabrielle gasped and pointed, "Look, do you see?"

But Xena was already off and running. "I see." She threw the answer over her shoulder and bolted. With a warrior yell, she did a front flip off the cliff edge and dove headlong into the bolt, where the body was spinning head over heels.

"OOF!" Xena gasped. Something large, hard, and seemingly human slammed against her, sending Xena and the object of the lightning's wrath spiraling toward the river below. Xena hurriedly glanced around, her mind searching for ideas. She came up with nothing. "Well this is a fine time to draw a blank," she berated herself.

Gabrielle, shocked out of her stunned reverie, sprinted and hopped down the mountainside at an alarming speed in order to reach the river. She cursed herself for forgetting her staff and trudged onward, now and then glancing up to follow Xena's rapid descent. By the gods, let her be all right, she prayed.

With an eardrum splitting splash, Xena and her cargo slammed into the river's glassy surface. The force with which they hit the water would have made a Cyclops scream for his mommy. Xena, however, being Xena, called out in pain as a warrior. She grunted.

Xena was fully aware she was falling deeper into the liquid, and that she had lost contact with the body. She'd had kept a tight grasp until the moment of impact. She growled inwardly, mustering what strength she had left, and reached out into the blackness blindly, feeling through the water. She knew it couldn't have gone far.

As if by fate, a hand grasped hers, and Xena pulled with her last remaining strength to draw the limp form into her embrace again, letting out a relieved sigh of air bubbles. She allowed her body to relax and let herself float to the surface. Sure enough, a few seconds later she appeared above the water, rain pelting down on her upturned face.

"GABRIELLE!" Xena shouted with all her might as two forms collapsed near the river's edge.

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